Hydraulic motor control apparatus

Abstract

A hydraulic motor control apparatus comprising a plurality of standard multiple function modules adapted to be selectively programmed in various arrays to effect substantially any required hydraulic control function.

I claim: 
     
       1. A universal directional valve programmable for all valving functions, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a power flow module for controlling the power flow from a pump to a fluid motor, said module comprising two identical independently controllable power flow elements, each of said power flow elements being shiftable between "neutral", "forward", and "reverse" positions by pressure signals from two signal flow ports; power flow ports in said power flow module for connection with said pump, fluid motor, and a reservoir; a standard power flow module interface on said power flow module and including standardized signal flow porting communicating with said signal flow ports; and an infinitely programmable modular signal flow valve system including a standard signal flow module interface mounted on said power flow module interface and including standardized signal flow porting that registers with said signal flow porting of said power flow module interface, and said signal flow valve system including standard selectively programmable modules provided with a common standard interface, port and duct configuration, standard selectively programmable valve spool configuration, and associated control elements, said signal flow valve system serving to control signal flows of fluid through said signal flow porting and to and from said control ports to effect control of said power flow elements. 
     
     
       2. A universal directional valve programmable for all valving functions, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a power flow module for controlling the power flow from a pump to a fluid motor, said module comprising two identical independently controllable power flow elements, each of said power flow elements being shiftable between neutral, forward, and reverse positions by pressure signals from two signal flow ports; power flow ports in said power flow module for connection with said pump, fluid motor, and a reservoir; a standard power flow module interface on said power flow module and including standardized signal flow porting communicating with said signal flow ports; an infinitely programmable modular signal flow valve system comprising a standard signal flow switching module including two standard selectively programmable signal flow elements, each of said signal flow elements being independently shiftable between neutral, forward, and reverse positions to effect control of said power flow elements; and a standard signal flow module interface conforming with said power flow module interface and including standard signal flow porting that registers with said signal flow porting of said power flow module interface so as to conduct signal flows of pressurized fluid between said modules and thereby directionally control the power flows between the pump and fluid motor. 
     
     
       3. A universal directional valve programmable for all valving functions, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a power flow module; a first power flow spool bore in said module and including a first forward signal flow port at one end of said first spool bore, a first reverse signal flow port at the other end of said first spool bore, a first pump connecting port, a first reservoir connecting port, and a first motor connecting port; a second power flow spool bore in said module and including a second forward signal flow port at one end of said second spool bore, a second reverse signal flow port at the other end of said spool bore, a second pump connecting port, a second reservoir connecting port, and a second motor connecting port; a first independently controllable power flow spool element in said first spool bore; a second independently controllable power flow spool element in said second spool bore; a standard power flow module interface on said power flow module and including standardized signal flow porting communicating with said signal flow ports of said spool bores; an infinitely programmable modular signal flow valve system comprising a standard signal flow module including a standard signal flow module interface mounted on said power flow module interface and including standardized signal flow porting that registers with said signal flow porting of said power flow module interface, and said signal flow valve system including standard selectively programmable modules provided with a common standard interface, port and duct configuration, standard selectively programmable valve spool configuration, and associated control elements, said signal flow valve system serving to control signal flows of fluid through said signal flow porting and to and from said control ports to effect control of said power flow elements. 
     
     
       4. The directional valve apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power flow module comprises check valves and orifices located in parallel flow relationship in the control flows from said signal flow module to said control ports. 
     
     
       5. The directional valve apparatus of claim 3 wherein said signal flow control means includes a first shiftable signal flow spool for controlling the signal flow to and from said first and second forward signal flow ports; and a second shiftable signal flow spool for controlling the signal flow to and from said first and second reverse signal flow ports. 
     
     
       6. The directional valve apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power flow module comprises check valves and orifices located in parallel flow relationship in the control flows from said signal flow module to said control ports and wherein said signal flow control means includes a first shiftable signal flow spool for controlling the signal flow to and from said first and second forward signal flow ports; and a second shiftable signal flow spool for controlling the signal flow to and from said first and second reverse signal flow ports. 
     
     
       7. A universal directional valve programmable for all valving functions, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a power flow module for controlling the power flow from a pump to a fluid motor, said module comprising two identical independently controllable power flow elements, each of said power flow elements being shiftable between neutral, forward, and reverse positions by pressure signals from two signal flow ports; a standard power flow module interface on said power flow module and including standardized signal flow porting communicating with said signal flow ports; a signal flow center block module including a first standard center block interface and standardized porting that register with said power flow interface and standardized porting of said power flow module, a second standard center block interface and standardized porting, and a third standard center block interface and standardized porting; an infinitely programmable modular signal flow valve system comprising a standard signal flow switching module including a standard switching module interface and standardized porting that register with said second standard center block interface and standardized porting of said center block module, said signal flow switching module serving to control signal flows of fluid through said signal flow porting to and from said control ports; a second standard signal flow switching module including a second standard switching module interface and standardized porting that register with said third standard center block interface and standardized porting of said center block module, said second signal flow switching module serving to modify the effect of said signal flow on said power flow module, each of said signal flow switching modules including standard module bodies with standard ducts, standard porting, and selectively programmable signal flow control spools of standard configuration. 
     
     
       8. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a flow reducing signal flow element for controlling the pressure of the power flow between said power flow module and said motor. 
     
     
       9. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a pump vent signal flow element for controlling the venting of the power flow delivered by the pump. 
     
     
       10. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a flow reducing signal flow element for controlling the pressure of the power flow between said power flow module and said motor; and a pump vent signal flow element for controlling the venting of the power flow delivered by the pump. 
     
     
       11. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a counterbalance signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements. 
     
     
       12. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a first signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements; and a logic signal flow element for modifying the operation of said first signal flow element. 
     
     
       13. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a counterbalance signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements; and a logic signal flow element for modifying the operation of said counterbalance signal flow element. 
     
     
       14. The directional valve apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal flow module includes four standard signal flow ducts communicating with said standardized porting. 
     
     
       15. The directional valve apparatus of claim 2 wherein said signal flow module includes four standard signal flow ducts communicating with said standardized porting. 
     
     
       16. The directional valve apparatus of claim 3 wherein said signal flow module includes four standard signal flow ducts communicating with said standardized porting. 
     
     
       17. The directional valve apparatus of claim 7 wherein said signal flow modules include four standard signal flow ducts communicating with said standardized porting. 
     
     
       18. A universal directional valve programmable for all valving functions, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a power flow module for controlling the power flow from a pump to a fluid motor, said module comprising a power flow element shiftable between neutral, forward, and reverse positions by pressure signals from two signal flow ports; a standard power flow module interface on said power flow module and including standardized signal flow porting communicating with said signal flow ports; an infinitely programmable modular signal flow valve system comprising a standard signal flow center block module including a first standard center block interface and standardized porting that register with said power flow interface and standardized porting of said power flow module, a second standard center block interface and standardized porting, and a third standard center block interface and standardized porting; a first standard signal flow switching module including a standard switching module interface and standardized porting that register with said second standard center block interface and standardized porting of said center block module, said signal flow switching module serving to control signal flows of fluid through said signal flow porting to and from said control ports; a second standard signal flow switching module including a second standard switching module interface and standardized porting that register with said third standard center block interface and standardized porting of said center block module, said second signal flow switching module serving to modify the effect of said signal flow on said power flow module, each of said signal flow modules including standard module bodies with standard interfaces and ports that register with one another in various programmable arrays, said switching modules including signal flow control spools of standard spool configuration. 
     
     
       19. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said signal flow modules include four standard signal flow ducts communicating with said standardized porting. 
     
     
       20. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a flow reducing signal flow element for controlling the pressure of the power flow between said power flow module and said motor. 
     
     
       21. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a pump vent signal flow element for controlling the venting of the power flow delivered by the pump. 
     
     
       22. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a flow reducing signal flow element for controlling the pressure of the power flow between said power flow module and said motor; and a pump vent signal flow element for controlling the venting of the power flow delivered by the pump. 
     
     
       23. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a counterbalance signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements. 
     
     
       24. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a first signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements; and a logic signal flow element for modifying the operation of said first signal flow element. 
     
     
       25. The directional valve apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second standard signal flow switching module includes a counterbalance signal flow element for modifying the signal flow effect on said power flow elements; and a logic signal flow element for modifying the operation of said counterbalance signal flow element.